The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915 eBook

It already has been mentioned that according to information
obtained from the enemy fifteen Germans were killed
by a bomb dropped upon the ammunition wagon of a cavalry
column. It was thought at the time that this
might have been the work of one of our airmen, who
reported that he had dropped a hand grenade on this
convoy, and had then got a bird’s-eye view of
the finest display of fireworks he had ever seen.
From corroborative evidence it now appears that this
was the case; that the grenade thrown by him probably
was the cause of the destruction of a small convoy
carrying field-gun and howitzer ammunition, which now
has been found a total wreck.

Along the road lie fourteen motor lorries, their iron
skeletons twisted and broken. Everything inflammable
has been burned, as have the stripped trees—­some
with split trunks—­on either side of the
road. Of the drivers, nothing remains except
tattered boots and charred scraps of clothing, while
the ground within a radius of fifty yards of the wagons
is littered with pieces of iron, split brass cartridge
cases, which have exploded, and some fixed-gun ammunition
with live shells.

If it were possible to reconstruct this incident,
if it was, in fact, brought about as supposed, the
grenade from the aeroplane must have detonated on
the leading lorry, on one side of the road, and caused
the cartridges carried by it to explode. Three
vehicles immediately in the rear must then have been
set on fire, with a similar result. Behind these
are groups of four and two vehicles so jammed together
as to suggest that they must have collided in desperate
attempts to stop. On the other side of the road,
almost level with the leading wagon, are found more
vehicles, which probably were fired by the explosion
of the first.

If this appalling destruction was due to one hand
grenade, it is an illustration of the potentialities
of a small amount of high explosive detonated in the
right spot, while the nature of the place where the
disaster occurred, a narrow forest road between high
trees, is a testimony to the skill of the airmen.

It is only fair to add that some French newspapers
claim this damage to the enemy was caused by the action
of a detachment of their dragoons.

IX.

1,100 Dead in a Single Trench.

[Official Summary, Dated Oct. 27.]

The Official Bureau makes public today the story of
an eye-witness, supplementing the account issued on
Oct. 24, and bringing the story of the general course
of operations in France up to Oct. 20. The arrival
of reinforcements, it says, enabled the British troops
to assist in the extension of the Allies’ line
where the Germans advanced from the northeast and
east, holding a front extending from Mont Descats,
about ten miles northeast of Hazebrouck, through Meteren,
five miles south of that point, and thence to Estaires,
thirteen miles west of Lille, on the River Lys.
The statement continues: